Bolsover Council’s executive director, Paul Hackett, said: “With the backdrop of the Government austerity measures and cuts to council budgets, this is one of the best opportunities that the council has developed. It will ultimately save the authority money whilst providing better choice and better quality facilities for our residents.”

A district-wide consultation took place last year which showed 78.6 per cent of people who responded either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ with the proposal.

The council says 3,795 households responded to the survey, a response rate of 10.8 per cent, with 35,100 questionnaires distributed.

Earlier this year, Creswell councillor Duncan McGregor said that the questionnaire was ‘misleading’ and that it did not address all the key points.

He said: “Some of the questions should have been made much, much clearer.”

“I went through the questions one by one and some of them had nothing to do with the point in fact.”

“The consultation was misleading and inaccurate.”

Mr Hackett added: “We are delighted to be in a position to award the contract to Pulse Fitness, a company who have a vast amount of experience and proven track record.”

“This facility will provide our communities with first class, modern, health and leisure facilities that will help us tackle obesity levels and encourage people to live healthier lifestyles.”